Definition:

There is evidence of a rare type of anorexia nervosa (AN) in children that is triggered by infection. This may be one of the Pediatric Auto-immune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcus (PANDAS). Obsessive-compulsive disorder, tics, and Tourette’s disorder are also included in this group. This type of AN is sometimes called PANDAS AN.

Characteristics of PANDAS AN:

This type of anorexia nervosa occurs before a child reaches puberty. (AN is a serious illness marked by refusal to eat, weight loss and obsessive fears of getting fat.)

The child has a rapid onset of symptoms and/or worsening of disordered eating.

The child may have signs of an previous or current streptococcal infection, which occurs at about the same time as the onset of eating disorder symptoms (Please note: Strep infections are common among youngsters; not all strep infections are PANDAS-related). With PANDAS, most children have the following:

A history of streptococcal illness: pharyngitis, sinusitis, or a flu-like syndrome